Malawi: Students return to school with support from COL’s Empowering Women and Girls project.
In the Mapanga community in Malawi, an initiative by the Commonwealth of Learning’s (COL) #COL4D regional partner, Concerned Youth Organization (CYO), has ignited a spark of hope for boys and girls facing educational challenges. Through the COL’s Empowering Women and Girls (EWG) project, the entire community has come together to make significant strides in reintegrating school dropouts and motivating other students to stay in school. A total of 50 students, comprising 31 girls and 19 boys, who had previously left school, found themselves back in the classroom, a testament to the collective effort of the community.
The catalyst for this transformation was the project activities implemented in the area, which enabled these learners to share their stories of struggle and hardships. Among them was Ellen Banda, an 18-year-old girl who had to halt her education due to a lack of funds for tuition fees combined with family responsibilities in taking care of her siblings following the loss of both her parents. The project is aimed at four result areas – sustainable agricultural practices, skill development programmes, gender and access to education.
Ellen expressed her desire to resume schooling, “I had to stop going to school to take care of my siblings. Your support is a tremendous motivation for me to continue my education.”
CYO discovered that many students, particularly girls, dropped out due to early pregnancies, compounded by a lack of parental support. Astrida Nyasulu, CYO’s project officer responsible for education, emphasised the importance of motivation and parents’ and traditional leaders’ involvement in ensuring children’s access to education and addressing adverse cultural norms.
COL is implementing the EWG project with financial support from Global Affairs Canada. It has set its sights on rekindling educational aspirations among girls and boys as one of the project components. This component, along with emotional support, and the provision of essential educational materials, is empowering students to pursue their academic dreams. The project ensures unwavering dedication to education, not only reinstating hope in the minds and hearts of students but also fostering a brighter future for the Mapanga community as a whole and, subsequently, the nation at large.
#CHOGM2024 #Resilience #GlobalAffairsCanada #EmpowerWomenAndGirls #EducationForAll #GenderEquality #COL4D #LearningForAll #SkillDevelopment
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Photos from Concerned Youth Organization's post
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